Meeting export order deadlines and timely paying bonuses and wages to workers have become tougher as well, BTMA president Mohammad Ali Khoko said in a letter to Bangladesh Oil Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) chairman Zanendra Nath Sarkerthe.
Production in more than 1,000 textile mills in Bangladesh dropped by 50-65 per cent over the past month due to a severe shortage of gas, trade body BTMA said.
Meeting export order deadlines and timely paying bonuses and wages have become tougher as well.
Overall production costs have escalated, significantly undermining the sector’s competitiveness.
Production at mills in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Savar, Ashulia, Maona and other places had become almost impossible, the textile mill owners lamented.
Reduced gas pressure has led to damage of many advanced machinery units in several factories, they claimed.
Khokon urged Sarkerthe to ensure uninterrupted gas supply on a priority basis to the textile sector.
Mills had only been able to utilise an average of 40-50 per cent of their production capacity in recent months, domestic media outlets reported.
Consequently, fabric processing costs have risen, yarn and fabric production have decreased, and overall production costs have escalated, significantly undermining the sector’s competitiveness, said the letter.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)